THE POWER OF PRAISE:
Greetings Beloved of the most high. Happy new year once again. I just want to remind you all of something we might be missing out which is the Power Of Praise.
Many a times we understand praise to be just a song even I included, I had this mindset till Jesus helped me understand that praise is more than just a song, it is not a feeling or emotion rather Praise is a way of expressing our gratitude to God for who He is and what He has done for us, it is a weapon, a strategic weapon of warfare.
In Hebrews 13:15
So we no longer offer up a steady stream of blood sacrifices, but through Jesus, we will offer up to God a steady stream of praise sacrifices—these are “the lambs” we offer from our lips that celebrate his name!
If you read that verse carefully, it outlines that “through Jesus we will offer up a steady stream of praise sacrifices”. In the ancient times we all know that animals were being offered as sacrifice but since Jesus offered himself as the lamb of sacrifice, what we are left to offer is the song of our lips. This verse encourages believers to offer the sacrifice of praise continually.
Maybe all through last year you have been praying for virtually everything but did you remember to praise? Sometimes answers to our prayers do not just come when we pray, most times it comes when we wholeheartedly praise God and I am a testimony of that. In the old testaments, they are various occasions where God reveal himself mightily through praises.
In 2 Chronicles 20:21-30 (MSG):
- After talking it over with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for God; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing, Give thanks to God, His love never quits.
- As soon as they started shouting and praising, God set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir as they were attacking Judah, and they all ended up dead.
- The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly attacked those from Mount Seir and massacred them. Then, further confused, they went at each other, and all ended up killed.
If you read from verse one you will have a better clue of the whole story, When Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, was faced with a massive army of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites, he gathered his people and prayed to God for help. God instructed them to send out praise singers ahead of the army, and as they sang, the Lord set ambushes against their enemies, and they were defeated. So these is a very good example of how praise could be used as a powerful weapon of warfare.
In Acts 16:16-40: When Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi, they prayed and sang hymns to God, and their chains were miraculously broken. They were able to escape from prison and continue their ministry.
These are all strategic ways praise was used as a weapon. Praise releases God's power and presence in our lives. When we praise God, we create an atmosphere that is conducive to the release of His power and presence.
So this year, make up your mind to also engage in praise not just prayer, make praise a regular part of your daily routine. Take time each day to praise God for who He is and what He has done for you and you will experience the power of God in a fresh and new way.
Posted Using INLEO